Gun owners up in arms

March 15, 2011|By Tribune staff reporter

You might say gun owners in Illinois are up in arms over a ruling by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Madigan wants the Illinois State Police to make public the names of individuals who have Firearm Owner Identification cards. She made her ruling after the Associated Press filed a Freedom of Information Act request. It is Madigan's legal opinion that the public has an overriding legitimate interest in knowing who legally owns a gun. The Illinois branch of the National Rifle Association, to no one's surprise, disagrees. The state police apparently are going to ask a judge to decide. Meanwhile, the debate heats up. Will knowing who owns guns somehow compromise the owners' Second Amendment rights and put their property and lives in jeopardy? Or will shining light on this information better serve the common good? Where is King Solomon when you need him?